A wacky walk

By Kelly Yates
TAKE a step to help a child in crisis.
That’s the motto for this month’s wacky walkathon to raise money for Christians Helping in Primary Schools (CHIPS), a non-profit organisation which runs camps for children in crisis.
The Berwick-based organisation helps more than 10,000 children every year through the ‘Life Gets Better’ camps and various seminars and programs.
Eric Wieckmann, one of the founders of CHIPS, is expecting more than 200 people to dress up in wacky clothes for the fund-raiser at Lysterfield Lake Park on Saturday 24 April.
Mr Wieckmann told the News the ‘Life Gets Better’ camps were an “encouragement weekend” for primary schoolchildren who had experienced major loss or grief.
The camps have been running for 10 years, with two held every year near Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
“We help the children see that their life is in fact a story,” he said.
“And we base the story on superheroes and the fact that all superheroes, whether they are real or made up, have tragedies in their lives. We explain that what makes a superhero is how they cope through the tough times.”
Mr Wieckmann said over the years many single mothers and volunteers who had taken part in the camps with their children, had returned to the organisation to help run the initiative.
“We have hundreds of amazing stories,” he said.
“We had one man who was a prison officer. He wanted to do something to help and was so touched by the camps that he decided to completely change his career and become a chaplain.”
CHIPS now has more than 600 volunteers.
Walkers in the wacky walkathon will get the chance to win prizes in categories including the craziest hat, the “wackiest” walker and the most money collected.
For details about the wacky walkathon for CHIPS call 9702 5528 or email enquires@chips.org.au